scribner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. C. E. SORIBNER.

TDLL GOUNTBR FOR TELEPHONE LINES.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

C. E. SGRIBNER. TOLL COUNTER PoR TELEPHONE LINES. No. 593,612.

Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

* UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormea,

CHARLES E. SCRIBNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TOLL-COUNTER FOR TELEPHONE-LINES.

SPECIFICATION' forming partl of Letters Patent No. 593,612, dated November 16, 1897. Application filed September l0, 1894. Serial No. 522,608. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: v change, and means for actuating the register- Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SGRIBNER, ing device through the instrumentality of the a citizen of the United States, residing at Chilocal circuits in the operation of establishing cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illiconnection from the line provided with the 55 5 nois, have invented a certainnew and useful register to another line by means of connect- Improvement inToll-Counters for Telephoneing-plugs in the usual manner, the iinal reg- Lines, (Case No. 360,) of which the following istr'ation ofthe instrument being controlled is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, or determined by the order of removal of the reference being had to the accompanying connecting-plugs from their sockets. To be 6o 1o drawings, forming a part of this specification. more specific, I construct a registering instru- Myinvention relates to apparatus forcountment with two electromagnets, one of which ing or registering the number or times of conis adapted to operate the recording mechannections with a telephone-line. .Heretofore ism and the other of which is arranged to various devices having this object in View undo the work of or neutralize the eifect of 65 15 have been designed, the Wimmediate purpose the iirst electromagnet. These two magnets of the device being to permit the charge ot' a I arrange in different portions of a local ciriixed rate or toll for each use of the telephonecuit adapted to be closed in the act of making line, the generic name applied to the instruconnection with the corresponding line in rement being toll-counter. Most commonly sponse to a signal therefrom, and in combi- 7o zo the toll-counter has beenlocated at the subnation with the connecting-plugs and the 1 station of a telephone-line, the registration of spring-jacks of the lines with which connecthe instrument being controlled either autotion may be made I arrange a series of conmatically in the use of some one of the teleductors adapted t0 short-circuit or render inphonic appliances at the substation or inanoperative the neutralizing or retracting mag- 75 z 5 ually by the subscriber. In the first case the net when connection is completed by means instrument" of course does not discriminate of the connecting-plugs. The apparatus bebetween the use of the telephone in commuing thus organized the establishment of connicating with the central station or its use in nection with the call-initiating line and the communicating with a correspondent after a completion of such connection with the an- 8o 3o completed connection with his line. In the swering-line do not effect any record or reglatter case, the registration being optional istration. The removal of the connectingwith the subscriber, no satisfactory or certain plug from the spring-jack of the answeringbasis for a charge or rental is secured. It is line then permits both magnets to be excited, obviously desirable to so organize the tollwhereby the retracting-magnet is caused to 85 35 counter that it shall not take cognizance of undo the work of the operating-magnet and incomplete connections, and, further, that it thus to prevent the registration of a conshall record only such completed connections nection. The withdrawal of the answeringas result in actual conversation between the plug from the spring-jack of the call-initiatconnected subscribers, the charge being then ing line, however, permits the mechanism 9o 4o purely for actual use of the telephone-line in actuated by the final denergization of the conversation. Y main or operating magnet to effect regis- In myinvention I have aimed to provide a tration, the retracting-magnet being deenertoll-counter which may be located at the cen- Agized. Thus, considering the diiferent contra-l station and which may automatically regtingencies arising in the use of the telephone- 9 5 45 ister completed connections between the callline, it will be seen that the instrument can initiating line and the line called for, and register only in the case of connections acwhose registration shall be under the control tually completed, and then only on condition ofthe attendant making the connection. To that the operator, having ascertained that this end I provide a toll-counter or registerthe call-initiating subscriber has actually enroo 5o ing instrument included in a local circuit in tered into conversation with his correspondconnection with the telephone-line at the eX- ent, removes the answering-plu g first. In all other cases the instrument comes to rest in adapted to operate simultaneously or sueces.

sively upon a rotating armature. In the norm al condition ofthe instrument the armature is held in a determined position by the attraction of the permanent magnet. XV hen both electromagnets are simultaneously excited, the armature takes up a resul-tant po-v sition between the different magnets. Il new one of the electromagnets be demagnetized, the armature is moved to a resultant position between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet, the mechanism being so constructed that in this position it is upon the point of making a record. If while the armature is in this position the previouslyleenergized electromagnet be remagnetized, the armature will resume its earlier position, and when both electromagnets are subsequently simultaneously demagnetized the armature will return to its original position. If this be not done, the armature advances still farther to a new position, when the electremagncts are finally demagnetif/.ed and the registering mechanism is operated.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and may be described in a more complete and satisfactory manner in connection therewith.

Referring to the` drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my toll counting or recording instrumentY Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the positions of the diilerent magnetpoles with relation to the armature. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the circuit connections of my improved tollcounting system as a whole.

The tollcounter comprises, essentially, a permanent magnet a and two electromagnets l) and c, whose poles are arranged about the periphery of a star-shaped armatured, which latter controls or actuates the recording mechanism. This recording mechanism may preferably consist simpl y of a gear-wheel c, meshing with a worm f upon a spindle f", carrying armature d. rlhis worm-wheel e may be mounted upon a spindle c', carrying an indicator-arm e2, moving overa dial c3 in the usual way. The poles of the different magnets are placed, respectively, at diametrieally opposite points of the circle about which they are arranged. The star normally takes up a position with two of its arms in a line between the poles a a of the permanent magnet a. The poles c c of magnet` c are arranged slightly in advance of a pair of the remaining radial arms, while the poles h h of magnet b are arranged still farther in advance of the third set oi arms. rlhe adjustment oi the poles b h' with relation to the poles a a ol the permanent magnet a is such that after the arms of the star d have placed themselves in a line joining the poles c c' they are within the sphere of attraction of the poles a to a greater extent than any other arms of the armature d and tend to move to poles a a.

As before stated, in its position ol' rest the armature CZ stands with two ot' its armssay arms d cZ-iii a line joining poles c c'. It now magnets l) and c be simultaneously ex cited by current in their coils, the arms d? and d3 will be attracted toward poles c' c' and 1) b', respectively, these eleetromaguets heing constructed to overpower the attraction of the permanent magnet, andthe arms mentioned will take up a resultant position bew tween poles b b and c c. It at this point beth magnets are simultaneously demagnet` ized, the arms d d, being still within the range of attraction oi poles a' a, will be drawn back to their former position. li", however, instead of both magnets becoming dcmagnet ized only magnet c should be denergized, the arms (Z3 cl3 will move forward to take up a position in which they join the poles 7) Zi. Obviously it magnet I) should new be reenergized the armature would take up its former resultant position; but it instead ot' this the magnet c be deprived el' enrrentthe arms d3 d3, being within the range el poles a' a, wil-l move forward into a line joining these poles, thereby having el'lfected a movementot' the `star through one-sixth of a revolution, which movement will be indicated upon the dial e,

I will new proceed to describe my system of circuits for registering connections oil' lines extending to telephoneexchanges, of which the record-ing instrument just described. is an clement.

The apparatus provided for the telephonelineat the substation and that connected with the line upon the switchboard at the telephone-exchange may be the same as usual. In the drawings the substation apparatusfor example, at station A-is represented as comprising a microphone and telephone f/ and g, respectively, and a signal-bell and generator g2 and g, together with an auto, matic telephone-switch g'l for switching these 4instruments alternately into circuit with the lineswires l and At the central station the lines l and 2 are connected with the linecontacts of springjacks 7L and 71. and include the main magnet of a self-rcstoring individual annunciator t'. The spring-jacks are as sumed to be located on different sections 7;v and k of a multiple-switchboard, the annunciator t' being upon the section liz. In addition to the line-contaets--the spring Z and thimble Z-the spring-jacl s 71.71,' are provided with other spriiiigs l2 and Z3, which constitute the normally-separated terminals ot a local circuit which includes the resetting or resten iOO ing magnet of the individual annunciator of the line together with the electromagnets of the corresponding toll-counter. The spring Z2 of the jack upon section Ze with the lineannunciator t', which I shall designate the answering-jack, is connected by conductor 3 through the magnet o of the toll-counter and through a battery m to earth. Spring Z2 of line-'jack ZL is connected directly with the battery m by conductor 4. Local spring Z3 of the answering-jack Zi is connected with conductor 5, which includes magnet b of the tollcounter, and is connected with restoring-inagnet i" of annunciator i', whose other terminal is grounded. The spring Zsvof jack h is connected with conductor 5. l

The operator at eachswitchboard is provided with the usual connecting-plu gs united by ilexible cords and with accessory7 keys and switching appliances. This apparatus is shown complete only at section Za. There it will be seen to comprise two connecting-plugs n n', each plug being constructed with three insulated contact-pieces as follows: A tip o, adapted to make contact with spring Z, a short sleeve 0', arranged to register with springs Z2 Z3, to cross them together and at the same time make circuit connection with them, and a long sleeve o2, which is constructed to bear upon the thimble Z/ of the spring-jack. The like parts 0, 0, and 02 of the two plugs of a pair'are united by conductors 7, 8, and 9. The conductors 7 and 8 include the switchcontacts of two calling-keys p and p', either listening-key r also-has its switch-springs connected with conductors 7 and 8, its contact-anvils constituting the terminals of the operators telephone set s. When the plunger of key i" is depressed, the telephone is included in a bridge between conductors 7 and 8. The center of the coil of the telephone s is grouded, as usual, for testing purposes. A clearing-out annunciator for receiving the signal for vdisconnection is placed in a permanent bridge, uniting conductors '7 and 8.

I will now trace the operation of establishing connection between the twosubstations represented, following particularly the oper-v ation of the toll-counter in the use of the line.

Assume that subscriber at station A desires to communicate with subscriber at station B. The subscriber rotates his calling-generator g3, the telephone g being upon the switchhook g, whereby signaling-current is transmitted to the eXchange,which operates the annunciator "Z and indicates the signal to the attendant at board Zt'. This operator then inserts a plug n into the answering-jack Zz of the calling-line at her switchboard and depresses the plunger of her listening-key fr. By this means the circuit of conductors l and 2 is extended, through the contact-pieces of the spring-jack and registering-contacts of as before described.

plug n, to conductors 7 and 8, and thence to her telephone s', whereby she is enabled to communicate with subscriber at station A and to receive his order for the connection desired. By the insertion of plug n into jack Zi the local springs Z2 Z3 are crossed together through the sleeve o', and the local circuit of battery m is completed, the circuit being through conductor 3, including magnet c of the toll-counter, to spring Z27 thence to spring Z3, through conductor 5, including magnet Z) and the restoring-coil i of annunciator fil, to earth. The individual annunciator is thus reset to its normal position, and at the same time the star-wheel d of the toll-counter is rotated through a small arc, taking up a resultant position between poles c c' andb b, Having received the order, the operator tests in the usual manner to determine whether the line called for is already in use or notthat is, by touching the test-ring Z4 of the jack h3 of line to station B with the tip o of plug if-it being understood that if the line be in use the test-ring Z4 will be electriiied by connect-ion with battery m, and the current derived therefrom will produce a click in telephone .3'. It the line should be found busy, the operator would announce this to the call-initiating subscriber at station A and would withdraw the answering-plug n from answering-jack h. Both magnets Z) and c of the toll-counter would thus be simultaneously demagnetized and the starwheel CZ would return to its original position Without having registered or counted the use of the telephone-line. If, however, the line called for be found free, the operator inserts the plug n into the jack h3, whereby the circuit between the two substations is completed, being extended from conductors 7 and 8 of the plug-circuit to line-wires l0 and ll to station B. The operator then signals the subscriber at station B by depressing calling-key p', as usual. By the insertion of plug n into springjack h3 a short circuit is closed about the magnet c, this circuitbeingfrom springZ3 of jack h3 to the sleeve o of plug n', thence through conductor 9 to the corresponding sleeve of plug 'n' thence to spring Zof the spring-jack h'. The magnet c thus loses its magnetization and allows the star-wheel CZ of the toll-counter to advance, as described. The operator has now placed the apparatus in position for communication between substations A and B, and, listening at her telephone s, she is enabled to determine whether conversation actually takes place between the subscribers. If subscriber atstation B 'should fail to respond, the operator first withdraws plug n/ from the spring-jack of the line to station B. The

short circuit about vmagnet c is thus removed. This magnet becomes again energized and retracts the star-wheel to its second position. The operator then finally withdraws plug n from answering-jack Zt', whereby, both inagnets b and c being simultaneously demagnetized, the star-wheel again returns to its ICO IIO

first position without having counted t-he use of the line. If, however, the operator, listening at her teleph one, tinds that the subscribers have entered into conversation with each other, she disconnects her telephone and proceeds with other business, as usual, until the signal for disconnection is displayed by clearin g-out annun ciator t. She then removes answering-plug n from answering-jack 7L and afterward removes plug n from the line-jack h3. By the withdrawal of plug n first the magnet b is devitalized without the previous remagnetization of magnet c, and the starwl1ee],un der the attraction of permanent m ag net a, moves from its third position, in which its arms dis join the poles b h', to a new position one-sixth of a revolution in advance of its initial position. This one-sixth of a revo lution correspon ds to one use of the telephoneline and is indicated upon the dial by the pointer moving over one division of the dial. The registration oi' the use of the telephoneline is thus made dependent upon the completion4 of the connection with the line oi the subscriber called for and is placed under the control oi' the operator without requiring her to manipulate any additional apparatus, the registration being determined by the order of removal of the two connecting-plugs of a pair.

Itis obvious that the mechanism of this device is not limited to this particular mode of operation. lf desired, the discrimination between actual conversations and completed connections need not be made, in which case the operator has only to remove the answering-plug first in every instance. \Vhen operated-in this manner, all completed connections will be recorded.

The utility of my improved counting device is of course not limited toits use in connection with this toll-counting system. It can be used with many forms of counters in which it is desired to avoid ratchet wheels and pawls.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The combination with a permanent magnet of an armature therefor having projections adapted to come successively into the field of the magnet, an electromagnet and means for intermittently exciting the same, and an armature for the electromagnet connected with the armature of the permanent magnet, the poles and armature oi' the electromagnet being so adj usted with relation to the poles and armature of the permanent inagnet that the attraction of its armature by the electromagnet brings a new projection of the armature of the permanent magnet into the field of the latter, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a magnet having a permanent lield, of an electromagnet and means for intermittently exciting the same, a commen star-shaped revolving armature adapted to bring its arms successively into the permanent Iield, the electromagnet being adapted when excited te attract one oi the said projections into such position that a new projection of the armature is within the per manent field, substantially as described.

The combination with a rotating starshaped armature controlling registering mechanism, of a permanent magnet adapted to attract an arm or projection of the armatu re to hold it in a stable position, and an electromagnet adapted to attract another arm of the armature, the said eleetromagnet being placed in position to bring a new arm of the armature into range of the permanent magnet, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a telephone-line and two appliances involved in making conneetion therewith adapted for successive operation, of registering or counting mechanism associated with the line and two clectromag nets acting thereon, one adapted to cause it to register and the other adapted to return the registering mechanism to its prior position, circuits including the dillerent magnets and switches controlling the circuits connected with the said appliances and operated in conjunction therewith, as described.

5. In combination, a magnet having a per manent iield, two electromagnets and means for intermittently exciting them independently of eachother, an armature having projections adapted to come successively Vinto the permanent iield, the said electronn'tgnets being adapted when successively excited to bring a new projection into the permanent field, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a telephone-line, of two appliances, each adapted for making connection between the said line and another line, of a coimection-counter associated with the said line, and mechanism actuated in the use ol' one only of said appliances controlling the operation of the counter; whereby connectien may be made with the line without operating the counter thereof, as described.

7. The combination with a telephoneline, of two separate devices for making connection therewith, one designed for use in making connection Vfrom the line and the other for use in making connection to the line, toll counting or registering mechanism in connection with one of said devices, preferably the former, and means for determining the actuation of said mechanism when connection is made with the line, as described.

8. The combination with two telephone lines, two sockets for each of the lines, and link conductors for uniting sockets ot' the different lines, of a connection-counter for each of the lines and actuating-circuits adapted to be closed through the counter el' one line through the agency of the plug and one of the sockets of the same line; whereby the counter of one only of two connected lines is made operative during connection between lines.

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9. The combination with two telephonelines and means ior uniting the lines in a through-circuit, of a connection-counter associated with one of the lines, actuated by an electromagnet, a circuit including the electromagnet, and means for completing it in the act of establishing a through connection between the two lines,an electromagnet adapted to return the connectioncounter to its prior position, and means for exciting said last-mentioned electromagnet at will, as described.

10. The combination With two telephonelines of a connection-counter comprising a registering device and means for actuating the same, an electromagnet adapted when excited to prevent the actuation of said registering device, and another electromagnet adapted when alone excited to cause its actuation, circuit connections and a switch adapted to permit the passage of current through both electromagnets when connection is made with one of the lines, and other circuit connections and a switch adapted to deprive said first-mentioned electromagnet of current when connection is completed with the other line, substantially as described.

1l. The combination with a telephon e-line, of an automatic switch adapted to be operated in the act of making connection with the line, a toll-counter comprising two electromagnets included in a local circuit controlled by the switch and registering mechanism controlled by them, said electromagnets being adapted when simultaneously excited to prevent the operation of the recording mechanism of the toll-counter, but one of them being adapted to actuate said mechanism when alone excited, and means for demagnetizing the other magnet to cause the instrument to register, substantially as described.

12. The combination with two telephonelines terminating in a telephone-switchboard,

of an answering-jack connected with one of the lines, a toll-counter in a normally open local circuit, said toll-counter comprising twoy electromagnets and recording .mechanism controlled thereby adapted to be actuated only when one of the magnets is excited but not when both are simultaneously excited7 switch-contacts for closing the circuit through both electromagnets when connection is made with the answering-jack, and switch-contacts actuated in establishing4 connection with the other line controlling the circuit of one of the magnets to deprive the magnet of current when such connection is made, substantially as described.

13. The combination with two telephonelines and appliances for uniting them, said appliances being adapted for successive operation in the process of uniting the lines, of a connection-counter associated with one of the lines, devices actuated in the movement of said appliances and mechanism for operating the counter brought into action through the operation of said devices in a particular succession, substantially as described.

'14. The combination with two telephone lines connected to forma compound circuit extending between two substations through a central station; of a registering device associated with each; and means, substantially as indicated, for actuating the said registering device of the initiatory line, and for maintaining quiescent that of the called line.

l5. The combination with two telephonelines and link conductors for uniting the lines into a continuous telephonie circuit, of an electromagnetic connection-counter for one of the lines, and actuating-circuits including the electromagnet of said counter closed in switch-contacts at two points, one at the point of connection oi' each line with the said linkconductors; whereby the counter is made operative only when connection between the lines is completed.

16. The combination with telephone-lines,

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